Airship



Sept. 25, 1928,

L. P. LIDBACK AIRSH-IP Filed Feb. l, 1928 Patented sept. 25, i928. p 1,685,458

UNiTED STATES PATENT oFFicE.

LEONARD P. LIDBACK, OF HONOLULU, TERRITORY OF HAWAII.

AIRSHIP.

Application led February 1, 1928. Serial No. 251,129.v

My invention relatesto improvements in 1 into a plurality of gas receiving compartairships, and it consi-sts iii the combinations, ments 3, and also add rigidity to the conconstructions, and arrangements hereinafter tainer. described and claimed. Y In Figure 2 I show three sets of wings in- 55 5 An object of my invention is to provide dicated generally at 4, and -Figure l shows an airship that combines the lighterthanthat these wings are disposed on both sides air craft principle with the heavier-tliaii-air of the container 1. Each set of wings consists craft principle. The device employs a gas of three wings 5 that project laterally from containing bag having a. great lifting power, the container 1. The distance from the tip 60 and a plurality of air plane wings that aid of one wing to the tip of thewing on the in lifting the airship, and in keeping it on opposite side is approximately two hundred an even keel when the ship is flying through and fifty feet. There is a space of twenty the air. feet between each wing and a wing disposed A further object of my invention is to proabove or below. It will also be noted from 65 vide a device of the type described, in which Figure l that the lowermost wing is conthe bulk-heads separating the gas bag into tinuous from end to end, and cuts across compartments are dished-type. The wings the entire airship. This lower wing 5 has are disposed in sets and I have shown three pontoons 6 disposed at its extremities. These wings in each set, and have further shown pontoons rest upon the water and help sta- 70 three sets on each side of the gas bag. The bilize the airship when floating. Each ponpassenger cabin is swung beneath the gas bag. toon is large enough to carry a sponson tank ther objects and advantages will appear '7 that can hold approximately six thousand in the following specification, and the novel gallons of gasoline. features of my invention will be particularly Gasoline may be pumpe-d from the tanks 7 75 pointed out in what I hereinafter claim. to gravity tanks 8 by a mechanism not shown.

y invention is illustrated in the accomhese gravity tanks 8 are disposed in the panying drawing forming a part of this apupper wings 5 and are designed to carry six plication, in which: hundred and seven hundred and fifty gallons Figure lis a front elevation of the device; of gasoline. The upper tank 8 carries six so and hundred, while'the lower tank 8 carries seven Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device. hundred and fifty. These tanks fee-d motors In carrying out my invention I provide 9 and 9', which develop a horsepower of a gas bag 1 of conventional sha e. This twelve hundred and fifty and seven hundred bag is preferably covered with erylliuin and fifty, respectively. It should be noted f skin, and is made gas tight. I do not emthat the width of the wings is fifty feet, thus ploy a plurality of gas bags within the cigarproviding ample space for carrying the tanks shaped container, as is the usual practice, Sand 8.

ut instead I provide a covering which in it- The airship is guided in its movement by self is gas tight. The present airship, as the elevators 10 and rudders 11. Ihave shown 90 4c shown in the drawing, is designed for carsix engines 9 and 9 on each side of the conryinga great load. The diameter of the gas tainer 1. These enginesactuate propellers 12, container 1 is one hundred and thirty feet which in turn give the necessary force to at is maximum. The length of the container carry the airship through the air.

1 is approximately eight hundred feet. A passenger cabin 13 is swung beneath the 95 5 container of such size will hold substantialcontainer 1 and 4 extends substantially7 ly 10,0Q0,000 cublC feet 0f hydIOgeIl gasthroughout the greater part of the length of In Figure 2 I have shown the container 1 the container. This cabin is large enough to as being provided with a plurality of diShedcarry freight and merchandise, other than type bulk-heads 2. I have found that bulk# passengers. Compartmentsforstowing heavy 10o 0 heads of this Shape are Stronger than flat freight or merchandise will be located directones. These bulk-heads divide the container 1y under each set 0f wings.

The following gives the approximate lifting power of the airship when constructed of the size already mentioned:

weight of andispiaced at sea level 807.2301115.' Weight of 10,000,000 cu. ft. hydrogren gas- 55, 9001bs.

Total lifting power of gas at sea level 751, 3801bs. Weight of 11" thick shell (beryllium) and ,(stiiIening grders) 320, 0001bs.

eigh of 115" thick bulk-he and (stiffeners) 87, 500lbs Weight yof planes as shown on sketch 75, 0001bs Weight of 1250 h. p. engines and 6 750 h. p.

engines 25, 000 lbs.

. 507, 500 lbs. Total lifting power of hydrogen gas 751, 3801bs.

Total weight of ship and engines gas 507, 500 lbs.

Remaining buoyancy for fuel and tanks 243, 880 Total lane surface 5 000 sq. ft. Total ift of plane at 10 lbs. per sq. it 500, 000 lbs.

From the above it will be noted that the buoyancy of the hydrogen gas compensates for the weight of the airship complete with engines, fuel, and equipment, leaving the en- 'tire lift of the wings 5 and 5, for supporting stood that the same is susceptible of various changes and I reserve the right to employ such changes as may come within the scope of the invention as claimed. I claim: An airship having a container for gas, a boat-shaped cabin swung from the bottom of the container, a plurality of sets of wings projecting laterally on both sides of said container, the lowermost wings of each set extending entirely across the ship and on top of the cabin, and gasoline containing pontoons disposed at the extremities of the lower wings. Y

LEONARD P. LIDBACK. 

